GAC Softball Championships
 
BETHANY, Okla. — After recording a program record for wins since joining Division II and the most wins in Great American Conference play since joining the GAC, Southern Nazarene heads to its second straight GAC Championships.
 
The Crimson Storm (27-29, 18-26 GAC) are rewarded by playing the GAC Regular Season Champion and No. 8-ranked Arkansas Tech Thursday at 2 p.m. The Golden Suns (44-7, 34-6 GAC) swept the season series this year from SNU, but the Storm played ATU close in all four games. The Storm lost 3-1 and 6-4 the first day before falling 5-0 and 7-2 on the second day. Tech knocked SNU out last year on the loser's bracket side, 10-2, after the Storm knocked off Arkansas-Monticello, 6-4. SNU drew Southeastern Oklahoma State in the opening game last season.
 
The winner of Southern Nazarene and Arkansas Tech will take on the winner of No. 4 seed Harding and No. 5 seed Arkansas-Monticello at 8 p.m. at Bentonville High School with the losers playing at 8 p.m. at Memorial Park. The Storm were swept by Monticello this season as all four games were one-run games and Harding took three of four games in the season series.
 
On the other side of the bracket No. 3 seed Southeastern Oklahoma State plays No. 6 seed Henderson State and No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas plays No. 7 seed East Central. The Crimson Storm split with Southeastern and lost three of to Henderson. SNU also split the season series with Southern Arkansas and East Central.